High school football preview: Hammonton

Sophomore running back Dylan Rosu saw time as a freshman last
year and impressed coaches.

The Hammonton High School football team will start several
sophomores this year.

Coach Pete Lancetta is excited about that.

"We're going to be young and inexperienced," Blue Devils coach
Pete Lancetta. "But we had a heck of a freshman team last year. I
think they're going to be more than capable. Some of these kids
will play for three years."

Hammonton will blend the newcomers with a talented transfer and
some determined veterans.

That combination should again make the Blue Devils a
Cape-Atlantic League and South Jersey Group III contender.

Few local teams can match Hammonton's success. The Blue Devils
have made 28 playoff appearances and won five South Jersey titles,
the last one coming in 2009 when they won the Group III crown.

"We have real good leadership in the senior class, which is
important," Lancetta said.

The Blue Devils will rely on senior lineman Nate Haden, a
three-year starter, defensive back and wide receiver Bobby Barbieri
and running back and linebacker Chris Brennan. Senior linebacker
Jordan Brown established himself as one of the area's best last
season.

Hammonton - as always seems to be the case - should feature
solid special teams. Barbieri is the punter, Anthony Scibilia is a
veteran long snapper and sophomore Alex Padovani is a promising
kicker.

"We have six kids back there running with the first unit,"
Lancetta said. "That's as much depth as we've had in the
backfield."

Senior Russell Forchion, a transfer from Overbook, rushed for
more than 1,000 yards at his former school last season.

"He's quick," Lancetta said. "He's a real good receiver type. He
has great hands."

Sophomore running back Dylan Rosu saw time at the end of last
season and showed himself to be a quick, physical runner.

He scored touchdowns in wins over Ocean City and Atlantic
City.

Christian Mortellite and Tyler D'Amelio are the top contenders
to play quarterback. D'Amelio started last season. The 6-foot-4
Mortellite is more of a pocket passer.

Hammonton is talented but the Blue Devils will have to overcome
their inexperience. Hammonton plays one of the region's toughest
schedules. Six of its nine opponents made the playoffs last season.
Two (Holy Spirit and St. Joe) won championships. One (Oakcrest)
reached a South Jersey final and two more (Atlantic City and Egg
Harbor Township) won playoff games.

"We don't know how the young kids are going to respond and
develop," Lancetta said. "We're going to be confronted with some
tough situations."